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In an appearance on The Chris Russell Show on ESPN 980 on Feb. 11, 2015, Mike Richman compares the last two decades of Redskins futility to the quarter-century period after World War II, another era of Redskins ineptitude. He cites stark similarities between the two periods beyond a sub-.500 winning percentage. He also talks with Russell, the Redskins' beat reporter for ESPN 980, about comparisons between Redskins executive Bruce Allen and Bruce's father, legendary Redskins coach and Hall of Famer George Allen. Check it out!

For so many years, the Redskins have either neglected, under-emphasized or mismanaged the NFL draft, considered by nearly all proven football minds to be the No. 1 tool for constructing a perennial winner.

That's why the remarks by McCloughan, the Redskins' new general manager, at his opening press conference earlier this month were so refreshing. He talked about how in previous NFL experiences during his 22-year career in Green Bay, San Francisco and Seattle, the draft was the primary personnel mechanism for not only elevating his teams to big-time success -- but maintaining that success, too. He called the draft the "lifeline of our organization."

“The thing I liked about what we did in San Fran, what we did in Seattle, we drafted our own, molded our own and re-signed the ones we wanted to re-sign,” he said. “So all of a sudden now, you train them how you want to train them. See, in Washington, we’re going to draft these guys and mold them as Redskins. We’re not going to have to go out to other organizations and bring in 32- and 33-year-olds who have different plans.”

McCloughan, who has drafted and acquired some of the best talent in the NFL over the past decade, also talked about what he learned from Ted Thompson and Ron Wolf when he worked under the two brilliant personnel executives years ago in Green Bay. One of the tips his picked up was to not rely excessively on free agency, an area the Redskins have overindulged in, for example, by signing over-hyped players like Albert Haynesworth to exorbitant contracts, then seeing them fall embarrassingly short of expectations.

“The first thing I learned from both of them is to not dabble in free agency," McCloughan said. "It’s always the draft. I’m a little different – I’m a little more aggressive than that. The thing about Ron and Ted both is (they’re) just so organized, so structured, and they knew exactly what they wanted in a football player. And you know what, every now and then they take a chance on a height-weight-speed guy, and it wouldn’t pan out. But all of a sudden, we’re taking guys – five, six, seven interior linemen coming in – five- to eight-year starters going to a couple of Pro Bowls. So I think it’s very methodical. You don’t do knee-jerk reactions. You’re very, very thorough, not just from the standpoint of how they play on tape but how they’re wired. What’s the strength coach say? What’s the trainer say? What do other teammates who played with them the year before say? I think once you get the whole portfolio kind of together, then you realize, you know what, this is the kind of guy we want. This is the kind of guy we know is going to be consistent every day on the practice field. And you might not be the best athlete or the fastest athlete. But you know what, you get enough of those guys together, you’re going to win more than you lose.”

Hopefully, McCloughan will reverse a trend that has crippled the Redskins not only during the Dan Snyder era, but also since Joe Gibbs left the team for the first time after the 1992 season, a near-quarter-century period when the Redskins have posted a dismal .411 winning percentage. That trend runs counter to the point McCloughan made about establishing longevity with draft picks, an area where the Redskins have been an utter failure.

The following statistics are shocking: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Redskins have the fewest number of draft picks in the NFL (37) who have started more than 10 games with the team during the period of 1999 to 2014, Snyder's 16-season ownership era. The Bills and Titans have the most (63 each), followed by the Browns (62), Bears (61) and Cardinals (60). The Titans, Bears and Cardinals have been to Super Bowls during that span. Moreover, from 1993 to 2014, 61 Redskin draft picks have started more than 10 games, third-fewest in the NFL during that 22-season span. The Bills (87), Titans (86), Cardinals (85), Rams (82) and Bears (81) top the list, and all five of those teams have reached the Super Bowl.

You've got your work cut out for you, Scot McCloughan. At least from the way things sound, however, you'll be trying to improve the team in a logical and professional manner, instead of resorting to the mind-boggling, amateurish, knee-jerk decisions that have been devastating the Redskins. As long as Snyder doesn't meddle and gives McCloughan the freedom to do what he does best, there’s room for optimism!

Former Redskins defensive end Jason Buck is Mike Richman's special guest on this episode of "Burgundy & Gold Flashback." Buck, who played his last three seasons in D.C. (1991-93) and earned a Super Bowl ring after playing his first four in Cincinnati, is most remembered in Redskins lore for pulling off "The Play" in a 20-17 win over the Cowboys in 1992. He speaks in detail about how "The Play" unfolded, as well as the adversity he faced growing up homeless in his youth, an inspiring sequence in the interview. He also explains that he knew even from a very young age that he'd someday be playing big-time football.

In the four-plus decades of the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry, the players with stars on their helmets have built a sizeable advantage, winning 64 of the 109 times the two teams have clashed.

However, the Redskins have prevailed when the stakes have been highest: the 1972 NFC championship and the 1982 NFC championship.

The first victory punched the Redskins' ticket to Super Bowl VII, where they fell to the Dolphins, 14-7. But as Redskins defensive end Ron McDole said, destroying the Cowboys, 26-3, on Dec. 31, 1972, was "kind of like our Super Bowl.

Famed Redskins running back Larry Brown is Mike Richman's special guest on this episode of "Burgundy & Gold Flashback." With the 3-11 Redskins backpedaling following their sixth straight defeat, a 24-13 loss to the Giants on Dec. 15, 2014, Brown opines on what's ailing the franchise, where the season went wrong and who's to blame. He also talks about the revered NFL coach who ordered him to be fitted with a hearing aide prior to his rookie season, Vince Lombardi, and his feelings on being shunned for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the same time two of his contemporaries with similar rushing and passing stats, Leroy Kelly and Floyd Little, are in Canton. Brown, one of the Redskins' all-time leading rushers with 5,875 yards, appeared in four straight Pro Bowls from 1969 to 1972.

The Redskins achieved the once-unimaginable at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on Nov. 25, 2001.

They beat the Eagles, 13-3.

This wasn't any old win over a long-time NFC East rival. It was Washington's fifth straight victory after an 0-5 start, marking the first and only time in NFL history a team that had opened its season with five consecutive losses rebounded with five wins in a row.

Former Redskins tight end Clint Didier is Mike Richman's special guest on this episode of "Burgundy & Gold Flashback." Didier, who caught 19 touchdown passes in his six seasons in D.C. (1982-87) and earned two Super Bowl rings, shares his thoughts on the 3-10 Redskins after a 24-0 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 8, 2014, their fifth straight defeat. He also talks about Super Bowl XXII, when he caught a touchdown pass during the Redskins' 35-point, second-quarter explosion that led to a 42-10 win over the Broncos, as well as his political endeavors. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010 and 2014.

Former Redskins cornerback Mike Bass is Mike Richman's special guest on this episode of "Burgundy & Gold Flashback." Bass speaks mostly about his memorable career in D.C., where he intercepted 30 passes, many of them during the Redskins' dominant seasons in the 1970s, and about his 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Super Bowl VII. He tells the amazing story of how he was already friends with the Dolphins kicker who infamously fumbled the ball, Garo Yepremian. Bass also talks about how he was inspired early in his career by legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

The Redskins were all but buried, written off by many in the sports media with five games left in the 2005 season.

Having suffered three straight maddening losses by a total of 10 points, the 5-6 squad appeared destined for its sixth consecutive non-playoff season. But these Redskins proved to be special and resilient. They reeled off five straight wins to finish 10-6 and earn a wild card spot.

The streak began with a 24-9 win over the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Dec. 3, 2005.

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Mike Richman is the man with all of the answers when it comes to Redskins history. A journalist who has covered sports for a quarter-century, Mike is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – the Washington Redskins Football Vault and The Redskins Encyclopedia. His articles on Redskins history have appeared in myriad publications, and he hosts an award-winning Redskins TV show called “Burgundy & Gold Magazine.”

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About Mike

Redskins historian and journalist Mike Richman is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – The Redskins Encyclopedia and the Washington Redskins Football Vault: The History of a Proud Franchise. Mike also hosts a podcast focusing on Redskins history called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback," which brings listeners front and center with the team's tradition. He has also produced and hosted a TV show called "Burgundy & Gold Magazine." For his work on "Burgundy & Gold Magazine," Mike won first place for sports coverage in the nationally recognized 2013 Hometown Media Awards sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media. He's been interviewed extensively by print and broadcast media on Redskins lore, including NFL Films for its documentary, “History of the Washington Redskins,” and the Redskins for their 75th anniversary production, “Great Moments in Redskins History.” Plus, he'...